10 Reasons Why You Might Consider Hiring a Medical Malpractice Attorney

March 30, 2018

People often don’t understand the importance of attorneys until they need one. Once someone is thrown into the legal system or needs compensation for a serious injury, they often realize that having a skilled, experienced legal advocate can make a significant difference in their personal lives.

There are many benefits to hiring an attorney after you’ve suffered harm at the hands of a negligent healthcare provider. One could make a lengthy list of reasons why having a lawyer can be useful when pursuing a medical malpractice claim, but let’s focus on 10 of the most important ways an attorney can be useful for your case.

  1. Dealing with insurance companies. One of the most intimidating aspects of filing a medical malpractice claim is corresponding with insurance companies. Many people aren’t sure whether they are obligated to speak to insurance companies or what they should say when talking to a representative. Attorneys can handle much of the correspondence with insurance companies and help you know what you should and shouldn’t say to insurers.
  2. Handling the endless paperwork. If you’ve ever read a legal document, you know how frustrating legal jargon can be. In a medical malpractice claim, there is a seemingly never-ending stream of paperwork that needs to be prepared, reviewed and responded to. Attorneys know the language to use, the proper time frame for filing a claim and how to respond to correspondence from other parties.
  3. Knowing the value of a claim. Without a frame of reference, you might go into the process with expectations that are far too high or, even worse, far too low. Attorneys have been through the process many times, and they know how to come up with a settlement that accurately represents your needs and maximizes the chances that your claim will be successful.
  4. Negotiating the best settlement possible. In addition to knowing what a claim is worth, attorneys are also skilled in negotiation. In many cases, an attorney’s reputation precedes them, which enhances their ability to negotiate a favorable settlement for their client. Attorneys won’t be intimidated by a healthcare provider’s legal team, and they’ll know how to build a strategy that will be effective in a negotiation.
  5. Arguing your case before a judge or jury. In many claims, the plaintiff’s case must be made before a judge or jury. The success of a claim hinges on the ability to argue a case. Attorneys know how to build a claim that reflects the needs of their client to a jury and follows the standards expected by judges.
  6. Avoiding mistakes. If you don’t know the process of filing a claim, you’re much more likely to make mistakes. When you’re dealing with a medical malpractice claim that carries the potential to help you pay medical bills and recover lost wages, these mistakes can be extremely costly and spell doom for your injury case. Learning on the job is simply not an option for someone that needs compensation for serious injuries.
  7. Speeding up the process. A good attorney appreciates the fact that time is often of the essence for their clients. Attorneys make it a priority to keep a case moving forward so their client gets a result in a time frame that meets their needs.
  8. Sparing your time. The processes required to file a medical malpractice claim, from drafting the necessary paperwork to building a claim to consulting expert witnesses, can be extremely time-consuming. If you’ve never done it before, you also must factor in the amount of time you’ll spend researching each required step. By hiring an attorney to do the work, you’ll free yourself up to focus on your recovery and go about your daily life.
  9. Tapping resources. When you hire an attorney, you’re also enlisting the help of their connections. Whether it’s consulting experts in a field that can back up your claim or finding a doctor that knows how to treat your condition, an attorney knows people that can help you recover and improve your case’s chances of success.
  10. Having an ally in your corner. Not everyone has a strong support system in place that will back them up for the duration of an injury claim. Attorneys are a constant. It is their job to be your advocate. They will provide counsel and support throughout the entirety of your case. It can often feel like it is you against the world if you go it alone in a legal matter. When you hire the right attorney, you’ll know that you always have an ally in your corner.

Medical Malpractice Fatalities and Injuries


Medical Malpractice Fatalities

Hiring a Medical Malpractice Attorney

If you aren’t convinced that an attorney is necessary for a successful medical malpractice claim and you’d like to learn more, consider taking advantage of the free consultations offered by many law firms. You want to make sure you trust your attorney and feel comfortable with their approach to your case. A free consultation is your opportunity to learn more about a firm and decide if an attorney is the right fit for your situation.

Few people actually want to go through the process of filing a medical malpractice claim. People file claims because they believe they are owed compensation and that our legal system is their best hope for recourse. Once someone is committed to that process, hiring the right attorney usually proves to be the wisest course of action.